Camera module for use in automobile

ABSTRACT

Embodiments provide a camera module including a lens unit, a first board formed with an electromagnetic circuit, a second board spaced apart from the first board, the second board including a terminal for external electrical connection and being formed with an electromagnetic circuit, a first support member having one side coupled to the first board and the other side coming into contact with one surface of the second board, so as to maintain a constant distance between the first board and the second board, and an electromagnetic-field shield configured to receive the first board and the second board therein, the electromagnetic-field shield serving to inhibit outward leakage of an electromagnetic-field formed in each board.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims the benefit under 35 U.S.C. §119 to KoreanPatent Application No. 10-2014-0140847, filed Oct. 17, 2014, which isherein incorporated by reference in its entirety.

TECHNICAL FIELD

Embodiments relate to a sturdy camera module which is capable ofpreventing the generation of, for example, position deviation and damagedue to external shocks and vibrations.

BACKGROUND

Camera modules having various use purposes may be mounted to anautomobile. For example, a camera module, which can capture a rear viewwhen parking an automobile, may be mounted to the back of an automobile.

In addition, recently a camera module may be used in an automobile blackbox, which is very useful to investigate, for example, the details andpossible cause of a traffic accident. In addition, the case where acamera module is used as a recognition device to clearly and easilyrecognize the situation in blind spots, which where an automobile driveror passenger has difficulty in visually checking, is graduallyincreasing.

In recent years, the manufacture of a so-called smart car, i.e. anautomobile equipped with, for example, a collision warning system, whichanticipates the potential of front and rear collisions while theautomobile is moving so as to prevent the collisions, and a collisionavoidance system in which a control device mounted in the automobile candirectly avoid a collision between traveling automobiles without relyingon a driver, is increasing and the development of associatedtechnologies is increasing.

The use of a camera module that serves to recognize the state outsidethe smart car is increasing and, correspondingly, the production andtechnical development of a camera module for use in an automobile areincreasing.

A camera module for use in an automobile may include a plurality ofPrinted Circuit Boards (PCBs) spaced apart from one another by aconstant distance. Since the camera module including the printed circuitboards is mounted in a traveling automobile, the camera module isnecessarily subjected to many shocks and vibrations due to externalforce compared to camera modules that are used for other purposes.

In particular, the printed circuit boards have a high risk of deviatingfrom original positions thereof due to continuous external shocks andvibrations and, in addition, there is a high risk of damage toconnectors that electrically connect the printed circuit boards to oneanother.

Therefore, there is a demand for a sturdy connection structure forcircuit boards that is capable of preventing the occurrence of, forexample, position deviation and damage to the printed circuit boards andthe connectors for the same due to external shocks and vibrations.

BRIEF SUMMARY

Accordingly, embodiments provide a sturdy camera module which is capableof preventing the generation of, for example, position deviation anddamage due to external shocks and vibrations.

In one embodiment, a camera module includes a lens unit, a first boardformed with an electromagnetic circuit, a third board spaced apart fromthe first board, the third board including a terminal for externalelectrical connection and being formed with an electromagnetic circuit,a second board disposed between the first board and the third board andelectrically connected to the first board and the third board, thesecond board being formed with an electromagnetic circuit, a firstsupport member having one side coupled to the first board and the otherside coming into contact with one surface of the second board, so as tomaintain a constant distance between the first board and the secondboard, and a second support member having one side coupled to the secondboard and the first support member and the other side coming intocontact with one surface of the third board, so as to maintain aconstant distance between the second board and the third board.

In another embodiment, a camera module includes a lens unit, a firstboard formed with an electromagnetic circuit, a second board spacedapart from the first board, the second board including a terminal forexternal electrical connection and being formed with an electromagneticcircuit, a first support member having one side coupled to the firstboard and the other side coming into contact with one surface of thesecond board, so as to maintain a constant distance between the firstboard and the second board, and an electromagnetic-field shieldconfigured to receive the first board and the second board, theelectromagnetic-field shield serving to prevent the outward leakage ofan electromagnetic-field formed in each board.

In a further embodiment, a camera module includes a lens unit, a controlcircuit board configured to control the lens unit, a power supplycircuit board disposed on the control circuit board and electricallyconnected to the control circuit board so as to supply electric power tothe control circuit board, a support member having one side coupled tothe control circuit board and the other side coming into contact with alower surface of the power supply circuit board so as to maintain aconstant distance between the control circuit board and the power supplycircuit board, and a fastener configured to couple the power supplycircuit board and the support member to each other.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Arrangements and embodiments may be described in detail with referenceto the following drawings in which like reference numerals refer to likeelements and wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating a camera module according toone embodiment;

FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view illustrating the camera moduleaccording to the embodiment;

FIG. 3 is a side view illustrating the camera module according to theembodiment;

FIG. 4A is a perspective view illustrating part of the interiorconfiguration of the camera module according to the embodiment;

FIG. 4B is a side view illustrating part of the interior configurationof the camera module according to the embodiment;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view illustrating a first support member or asecond support member according to one embodiment;

FIG. 6 is a perspective view illustrating a first support member or asecond support member according to another embodiment;

FIG. 7 is a perspective view illustrating a first support member or asecond support member according to a further embodiment;

FIG. 8 is a view explaining a coupling structure of respective boardsand support members of the camera module according to one embodiment;and

FIG. 9 is a view explaining a coupling structure of respective boardsand support members of the camera module according to anotherembodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Hereinafter, embodiments will be described with reference to the annexeddrawings. In the drawings, the same or similar elements are denoted bythe same reference numerals even though they are depicted in differentdrawings. In the following description, a detailed description of knownfunctions and configurations incorporated herein will be omitted when itmay make the subject matter of the disclosure rather unclear. Thoseskilled in the art will appreciate that some features in the drawingsare exaggerated, reduced, or simplified for ease in description, anddrawings and elements thereof are not shown always at the proper rate.

For reference, in the respective drawings, a rectangular coordinatesystem (x, y, z) may be used. In the drawings, the x-axis and the y-axismean a plane perpendicular to an optical axis and, for convenience, anoptical axis (z-axis) direction may be referred to as a first direction,an x-axis direction may be referred to as a second direction, and ay-axis direction may be referred to as a third direction.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating a camera module according toone embodiment. FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view illustrating thecamera module according to the embodiment. FIG. 3 is a side viewillustrating the camera module according to the embodiment.

The camera module may include a lens unit 10, a front cover 20,fasteners 30, a first sealing member 40, and a bracket 50.

The lens unit 10 serves to capture an image of an external object.Although not illustrated, the lens unit 10 may include, for example, alens barrel, a lens moving device to move the lens barrel in a firstdirection for focusing, and a shaking correction device to control themovement of the lens barrel in a direction perpendicular to the firstdirection. At this time, the lens barrel may be a single lens, or mayinclude a plurality of lenses arranged in the first direction.

In addition, the lens unit 10 is coupled to the front cover 20 via, forexample, shape-fit or interference-fit. A sealing device may be providedto prevent moisture, dust and other impurities from entering the cameramodule through a gap in a coupling region of the lens unit 10 and thefront cover 20.

The lens unit 10 is mounted to a front portion of the front cover 20. Tothis end, the front portion of the front cover 20 may have a hollowregion in which the lens unit 10 is mounted. The bracket 50 may becoupled to a rear portion of the front cover 20. For example, couplingof the front cover 20 and the bracket 50 may be implemented by thefasteners 30 as exemplarily illustrated in FIG. 2.

The fasteners 30 may serve to couple the front cover 20 and the bracket50 to each other. For coupling of the fasteners 30, for example, asexemplarily illustrated in FIG. 3, the bracket 50 may be formed withholes and the front cover 20 may be formed with recesses at regionsthereof corresponding to the holes of the bracket 50.

In the embodiment, since the bracket 50 is formed with the holes, thebracket 50 may also be formed with first avoidance recesses 51 for thefasteners 30. The first avoidance recesses 51 serve to assist thefasteners 30 in being easily coupled to the front cover 20 and thebracket 50. However, the first avoidance recesses 51 may be omitted whena coupling structure between the bracket 50 and the front cover 20 usingthe fasteners 30 is changed, or when the bracket 50 and the front cover20 are coupled to each other without using the fasteners 30.

For example, when the fasteners 30 are coupled in a direction oppositeto that as in the above-described embodiment, i.e. when the front cover20 is formed with holes and the bracket 50 is formed with recesses suchthat the fasteners 30 are coupled from the holes of the front cover 20to the recesses of the bracket 50, the first avoidance recesses 51 maybe omitted.

In another embodiment, when the front cover 20 and the bracket 50 arecoupled to each other via interference-fit or shape-fit without usingthe fasteners 30, the fasteners 30 are unnecessary and, therefore, thefirst avoidance recesses 51 may be omitted.

The first sealing member 40 may be located at a coupling region of thefront cover 20 and the bracket 50 and serve to prevent moisture, dustand other impurities from entering the camera module through a gap inthe coupling region of the front cover 20 and the bracket 50.

For example, the first sealing member 40, as exemplarily illustrated inFIG. 2, may be a gasket, an O-ring, or any one of other appropriatemembers, which have an appropriate shape and size to be located in aregion in which it can effectively block a gap in the coupling region ofthe front cover 20 and the bracket 50.

The bracket 50 is coupled to the front cover 20 and is configured toreceive most constituent elements of the camera module so as tohermetically seal the constituent elements from the outside, therebypreventing damage to and malfunction of the received constituentelements of the camera module due to external shocks and preventingoutside moisture, dust, and other impurities from entering the cameramodule.

The bracket 50 may be formed with the first avoidance recesses 51 forthe fasteners 30 to assist the fasteners 30 in being easily coupled tothe front cover 20 and the bracket 50. However, as described above, whenthe coupling structure of the front cover 20 and the bracket 50 ischanged or when the front cover 20 and the bracket 50 are coupled toeach other via interference-fit or shape-fit without using the fasteners30, the first avoidance recesses 51 may be omitted.

A protrusion 52 may be formed at the back of the bracket 50. Theprotrusion serves to hermetically seal an external cable electricallyconnected to the camera module and a region for installation of theexternal cable. The protrusion 52 may be configured to receive aterminal 70, a cable (not illustrated) having one end electricallyconnected to the terminal 70, a cable penetration member 80, a bushing90, and a second sealing member 91. Hereinafter, the aforementionedconstituent elements will be described in detail.

The camera module may include connectors 60, the terminal 70, the cablepenetration member 80, the bushing 90, and the second sealing member 91.

The connectors 60 may serve to implement electrical connection between afirst board 200-1 and a second board 200-2 and electrical connectionbetween the second board 200-2 and a third board 200-3. A detailedconfiguration of the connectors 60 will be described later.

The terminal 70 may be located to be coupled to the third board 200-3that will be described below and serve to implement electricalconnection with the outside of the camera module. Electric power issupplied from the cable connected to the terminal 70 to the third board200-3 provided inside the camera module and, in turn, supplied to thesecond board 200-2 and the first board 200-1 which are electricallyconnected to the third board 200-3 via the connectors 60.

In addition, as the first board 200-1 is electrically connected to thelens unit 10, for example, the lens moving device and the shakingcorrection device included in the lens unit 10 as described above may beoperated by the electric power supplied through the first board 200-1.

The cable penetration member 80 may take the form of a hollow member,such that a portion of the terminal 70 may be received in a hollowregion and the cable connected to the terminal 70 may extend through thehollow region.

Meanwhile, the terminal 70 and the cable may be firmly coupled toprevent short-circuit therebetween via, for example, soldering orbonding using an electrically conductive adhesive.

Coupling of the bushing 90 and the cable penetration member 80 may beimplemented in such a manner that one side of the bushing 90 is fittedto the inner circumferential surface of the cable penetrating member 80or one side of the cable penetrating member 80 is fitted to the innercircumferential surface of the bushing 90. In this way, the bushing 90may serve to extend the cable penetration member 80.

Accordingly, the bushing 90 may have a hollow region in communicationwith the cable penetration member 80 and the cable may penetrate throughthe hollow region. Meanwhile, the bushing 90 may be omitted when thecable penetration member 80 is sufficiently long. Whether toadditionally provide the bushing 90 or to use only the cable penetrationmember 80 may be appropriately selected in consideration of, forexample, the size and shape of the camera module and the arrangement ofconstituent elements.

The second sealing member 91 may be located in a gap between an end ofthe bushing 90 or the cable penetration member 80 and the protrusion 52of the bracket 50 and serve to prevent moisture, dust, and otherimpurities from entering the camera module through the gap.

Accordingly, the second sealing member 91 may have an approximatelycylindrical shape and may be fitted to come into close contact at theinner circumferential surface thereof with the outer circumferentialsurface of the bushing 90 or the cable penetration member 80 and to comeinto close contact at the outer circumferential surface thereof with theinner circumferential surface of the hollow region formed in theprotrusion 52.

FIG. 4A is a perspective view illustrating part of the interiorconfiguration of the camera module according to the embodiment. FIG. 4Bis a side view illustrating part of the interior configuration of thecamera module according to the embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view illustrating a first support member 100-1or a second support member 100-2 according to one embodiment. FIG. 6 isa perspective view illustrating the first support member 100-1 or thesecond support member 100-2 according to another embodiment. FIG. 7 is aperspective view illustrating the first support member 100-1 or thesecond support member 100-2 according to a further embodiment.

FIG. 8 is a view explaining a coupling structure of the respectiveboards and the support members of the camera module according to oneembodiment. FIG. 9 is a view explaining a coupling structure of therespective boards and the support members of the camera module accordingto another embodiment.

As exemplarily illustrated in FIGS. 4A and 4B, the first board 200-1,the second board 200-2, the third board 200-3, the first support member100-1, the second support member 100-2, and the connectors 60 may beprovided inside the camera module.

The first board 200-1 may be located close to the lens unit 10 andformed with an electromagnetic circuit including an image sensing unit(not illustrated). As the image sensing unit captures an image of anobject transmitted through the lens unit 10, the first board 200-1serves to convert the sensed image into electrical signals and totransmit the same to an external image storage device and/or imagereproduction device. Note that conversion from the sensed image to theelectrical signals may also be performed at the second board 200-2.

Meanwhile, the first board 200-1 may be formed with an electromagneticcircuit to control the lens unit 10. That is, the first board 200-1 mayreceive electric power from an external power supply through the cable,the third board 200-3, and the second board 200-2 to control the lensmoving device and the shaking correction device of the lens unit 10.

The third board 200-3 may be spaced apart from the first board 200-1 bya given distance and include the terminal 70 for electrical connectionwith any external device and an electromagnetic circuit. The secondboard 200-2 may be located between the first board 200-1 and the thirdboard 200-3 and be electrically connected to the first board 200-1 andthe third board 200-3. The second board 200-2 may be formed with anelectromagnetic circuit.

The second board 200-2 and the third board 200-3 may serve to supplyelectric power required for the first board 200-1 and to transmitelectrical signals related to the sensed image transmitted from thefirst board 200-1 to the external image storage device and/or imagereproduction device.

For example, the second board 200-2 may serve to convert the sensedimage transmitted from the first board 200-1 into electrical signals soas to transmit the same to the external image storage device and/orimage reproduction device, or may serve to rectify the electric powerinput from the third board 200-3 so as to transmit the same to the firstboard 200-1. That is, the second board 200-2 located at a middleposition between the first board 200-1 and the third board 200-3 maypartially share the roles of the first board 200-1 and the third board200-3.

The third board 200-3 may mainly serve to supply electric power requiredfor operation of the lens unit 10 and may also serve to transmit theelectrical signals related to the sensed image transmitted from thefirst board 200-1 and the second board 200-2 to the external imagestorage device and/or image reproduction device.

Accordingly, several elements such as, for example, a condenser, arectifier, and a transformer to supply electric power having anappropriate voltage and current required for operation of the lens unit10 may be mounted to the third board 200-3. In addition, the terminal70, which is coupled to the end of the cable as described above, may bemounted to the third board 200-3, for electrical connection with, forexample, the external image storage device, image reproduction device,or camera module control device.

As described above, since elements occupying a given volume such as, forexample, the condenser, the rectifier, the transformer, and the terminal70, may be mounted or coupled to the first board 200-1, the second board200-2, and the third board 200-3, there is required a device to providea constant distance between the respective boards and to maintain theconstant distance between the boards even when shocks and vibrations isapplied to the camera module by external force.

The device as described above may be implemented by support members thatare exemplified as the first support member 100-1 and the second supportmember 100-2 in the embodiments that will be described below. A detailedconfiguration of the support members will be described below.

Meanwhile, as exemplarily illustrated in FIGS. 8 and 9, the first board200-1, the second board 200-2, and the third board 200-3 may be formedat corners thereof with second avoidance recesses 220. This is becausethe second avoidance recesses 20 need to have a shape corresponding tothe first avoidance recesses 51 formed in the bracket 50 in order toallow the respective boards to be easily received in the bracket 50.

Accordingly, the second avoidance recesses 220 may be omitted becausethe first avoidance recesses 51 may be omitted when the formation of thefirst avoidance recesses 51 is unnecessary as described above, that is,when a coupling structure between the bracket 50 and the front cover 20using the fasteners 30 is changed or when the bracket 50 and the frontcover 20 are coupled to each other without using the fasteners 30.

Meanwhile, the respective boards may be printed circuit boards and maybe manufactured into forms that allow the installation of the elementsrequired on printed circuit boards. In addition, the respective boardsmay be formed with a strong material to maintain a constant distancetherebetween even when shocks and vibrations are applied to the cameramodule by external force.

The connectors 60 may serve to electrically connect the respectiveboards to one another. For example, as exemplarily illustrated in FIG.4A, the camera module may include the connector 60 to electricallyconnect the first board 200-1 and the second board 200-2 to each otherand the connector 60 to electrically connect the second board 200-2 andthe third board 200-3 to each other.

Although the embodiment illustrates that the connectors 60 forinterconnection of the respective boards are provided one by one atlateral sides of the respective boards, the embodiment is not limitedthereto and the number and arrangement positions of the connectors 60may be selected in consideration of the circuit structure of therespective boards and the overall structure of the camera module.

The connectors 60 may be formed of a flexible material which ensureseasy coupling between the respective boards and is capable of absorbingshocks and vibrations to prevent the camera module from being broken byshocks and vibrations applied from the outside of the camera module. Assuch, the connectors 60 may be configured as flexible circuit boards.

Note that the embodiment is not limited to the above description and theconnectors 60 may be formed using any other strong materials so long asthey are resistant to shocks and vibrations, or may be formed using abundle of electric wires. In addition, for example, soldering, adhesionusing an electrically conductive adhesive, shape-fit, orinterference-fit may be used. These connectors 60 may serve as B2B(board-to-board) connectors that electrically connect the respectiveboards to one another.

One side of the first support member 100-1 is coupled to the first board200-1 and the other side of the first support member 100-1 comes intocontact with one surface of the second board 200-2. As such, the firstsupport member 100-1 may serve to maintain a constant distance betweenthe first board 200-1 and the second board 200-2.

One side of the second support member 100-2 is coupled to the secondboard 200-2 and the first support member 100-1 and the other side of thesecond support member 100-2 comes into contact with one surface of thethird board 200-3. As such, the second support member 100-2 may serve tomaintain a constant distance between the second board 200-2 and thethird board 200-3.

The first support member 100-1 and the second support member 100-2 mayhave the same detailed shape except that the first support member 100-1is used to maintain a constant distance between the first board 200-1and the second board 200-2 and the second support member 100-2 is usedto maintain a constant distance between the second board 200-2 and thethird board 200-3 and that the first support member 100-1 and the secondsupport member 100-2 are arranged at different positions. Thus, thedetailed configuration of the first support member 100-1 and the secondsupport member 100-2 having the same shape will be described below.

The support member, which is a common name of the first support member100-1 and the second support member 100-2, may include a small diameterportion 110 and a large diameter portion 120. The small diameter portion110 may be narrower than the large diameter portion 120 in the widthdirection and may be formed at the outer circumferential surface thereofwith male threads.

The large diameter portion 120 may have a central coupling recess 121which is formed with female threads corresponding to the male threads toenable the screwing of the small diameter portion 110. As such, thesmall diameter portion 110 of one support member may be screwed to thecoupling recess 121 of the large diameter portion 120 of another supportmember.

In one embodiment, as exemplarily illustrated in FIG. 5, the largediameter portion 120 may have a hexagonal cross section in the widthdirection. This serves to allow the small diameter portion 110 of onesupport member to be screwed to an insertion region 210 of each board orthe coupling recess 121 of another support member using tools such as,for example, a wrench.

In another embodiment, as exemplarily illustrated in FIG. 6, the largediameter portion 120 may have a circular cross section in the widthdirection. The large diameter portion 120 may include a cross-shapedindentation 122-1 formed at one end in the width direction to passthrough the center of the large diameter portion 120. This serves toallow the small diameter portion 110 of one support member to be screwedto the insertion region 210 of each board or the coupling recess 121 ofanother support member using tools such as, for example, a Phillipsscrewdriver.

In a further embodiment, as exemplarily illustrated in FIG. 7, the largediameter portion 120 may have a circular cross section in the widthdirection. The large diameter portion 120 may include a linearindentation 122-2 formed at one end in the width direction to passthrough the center of the large diameter portion 120. This serves toallow the small diameter portion 110 of one support member to be screwedto the insertion region 210 of each board or the coupling recess 121 ofanother support member using tools such as, for example, a linearscrewdriver.

Although the several embodiments of the large diameter portion 120 orthe indentation have been described above, the large diameter portion120 or the indentation is not limited thereto and may have variousshapes according to the kinds of tools for the screwing of the supportmembers.

Meanwhile, as exemplarily illustrated in FIGS. 8 and 9, the first board200-1, the second board 200-2, and the third board 200-3 may be formedat corresponding positions with the insertion regions 210 for insertionof the small diameter portions 110 of the first support members 100-1 orthe second support members 100-2. In one embodiment, as exemplarilyillustrated in FIG. 9, the insertion region 210 may take the form of athrough-hole.

In another embodiment, the insertion region 210 may take the form of arecessed hole, at least a portion of which is open. The recessed holemeans the insertion region 210 formed at the edge of each board. Therecessed hole defines a perforated hole in the vertical direction ofeach board and partially merges with the end of the board in the lateraldirection such that a portion of the recessed hole is open.

FIG. 8 is a view explaining a coupling structure between the respectiveboards and the support members of the camera module according to oneembodiment. As exemplarily illustrated in FIG. 8, the first board 200-1,the second board 200-2, and the third board 200-3 may be spaced apartfrom one another, the first support members 100-1 may be located betweenthe first board 200-1 and the second board 200-2, and the second supportmembers 100-2 may be located between the second board 200-2 and thethird board 200-3.

Meanwhile, in the embodiment, a fastener 400 may be provided to couplethe third board 200-3 and each second support member 100-2 to eachother. The fastener 400 may pass through the insertion region 210 formedin the third board 200-3 such that one end thereof is fastened to thecoupling recess 121 formed in the large diameter portion 120. Thefastener 400 may be a screw, a coupling pin, and any one of variousother shapes.

With this configuration, the small diameter portion 110 of the firstsupport member 100-1 is screwed to the insertion region 210 of the firstboard 200-1, the small diameter portion 110 of the second support member100-2 is screwed to the large diameter portion 120 of the first supportmember 100-1, the second board 200-2 is disposed between the largediameter portion 120 of the first support member 100-1 and the largediameter portion 120 of the second support member 100-2, and the firstsupport member 100-1, the second support member 100-2, and the fastener400 are fastened to one another. In this way, a coupling structure ofthe respective boards, the respective support members, and the fastener400 is completed.

The first board 200-1, the second board 200-2, and the third board 200-3are spaced apart from one another by a constant distance by the firstsupport member 100-1, the second support member 100-2, and the fastener400. The resulting firm coupling structure may prevent the respectiveboards from deviating from given positions due to external shocks andvibrations.

Meanwhile, the first support member 100-1 or the second support member100-2 may be electrically connected to a ground wire. At this time, theground wire may be one of a plurality of cables coupled to the terminal70. As the ground wire is connected to the first support member 100-1 orthe second support member 100-2, it is possible to prevent short-circuitand damage to the respective boards due to a sudden voltage surge thatmay occur in the respective boards.

FIG. 9 is a view explaining a coupling structure of respective boardsand support members of the camera module according to anotherembodiment. In the embodiment, as exemplarily illustrated in FIG. 9, anelectromagnetic-field shield 300 is added compared to the embodimentillustrated in FIG. 8.

The electromagnetic-field shield 300 may be configured to receive thefirst board 200-1, the second board 200-2, and the third board 200-3 andmay serve to prevent the outward leakage of an electromagnetic-fieldformed in each board. The electromagnetic-field shield 300 may becoupled to the third board 200-3 using the fastener 400 and disposedinside the camera module.

To this end, the electromagnetic-field shield 300 may be formed withthrough-holes 310, into which the fasteners 400 are fastenedrespectively to couple the electromagnetic-field shield 300 and thethird board 200-3 to each other. As such, each fastener 400 may passthrough the through-hole 310 and the insertion region 210 formed in thethird board 200-3 such that one end thereof is fastened to the couplingrecess 121 formed in the large diameter portion 120 of the secondsupport member 100-2.

The electromagnetic-field shield 300 may be formed with third avoidancerecesses 320. This is because the electromagnetic-field shield 300 needsto have a shape corresponding to the first avoidance recesses 51 formedin the bracket 50 and the second avoidance recesses 220 correspondingthereto, in order to allow the respective boards to be easily receivedin the bracket 50.

Accordingly, when it is unnecessary to form the first avoidance recesses51 as described above, that is, when a coupling structure of the bracket50 and the front cover 20 using the fasteners 30 is changed, or when thebracket 50 and the front cover 20 are coupled to each other withoutusing the fasteners 30, the first avoidance recesses 51 may be omittedand, in this case, the third avoidance recesses 320 may be omitted.

Meanwhile, in another embodiment of the camera module including twoboards, a coupling structure similar to that as described above may beformed.

For example, when a control circuit board to control the lens unit 10and a power supply circuit board to supply electric power to the controlcircuit board are mounted in the camera module, according to theembodiment, there may be provided a coupling structure which is similarto an assembly of the first board 200-1, the third board 200-3, thesecond support members 100-2, and the fasteners 400 except for thesecond board 200-2 and the first support member 100-1.

That is, a coupling structure, in which two boards are firmly coupled toeach other so as to be spaced apart from each other by a constantdistance, may be formed using the control circuit board, the powersupply circuit board, the support members, and the fasteners 400. Atthis time, only one connector 60 may be provided unlike theabove-described embodiment. In addition, it is natural that theelectromagnetic-field shield 300 may be disposed similar to that of theabove embodiment.

In addition, it is natural that a regular and firm coupling structure ofthe respective boards, similar to that of the above-describedembodiment, may be formed even when four or more boards are arranged ata constant distance.

As is apparent from the above description, according to the embodiments,respective boards are firmly coupled to one another using supportmembers and fasteners so as to be arranged at a constant distance, whichhas the effect of improving the coupling force between the respectiveboards.

In addition, owing to this firm coupling structure, the respectiveboards maintain a constant distance therebetween, rather than deviatingfrom given positions, even if external shocks or vibrations arecontinuously applied thereto, which has the effect of preventing damageto the boards and the malfunction of a camera module.

In addition, the respective support members may be manufactured to havevarious lengths, which has the effect of enabling the easy adjustment ofthe distance between the respective boards.

In addition, through the easy adjustment of the distance between therespective boards, it is possible to provide connectors for electricalconnection between the respective boards with an assembly tolerance toprevent the connectors from being tightly coupled to the respectiveboards, which has the effect of preventing damage to the connectors andshort-circuit due to external shocks or vibrations.

Although embodiments have been described with reference to a number ofillustrative embodiments thereof, it should be understood that numerousother modifications and embodiments can be devised by those skilled inthe art that will fall within the spirit and scope of the principles ofthis disclosure. More particularly, various variations and modificationsare possible in the component parts and/or arrangements of the subjectcombination arrangement within the scope of the disclosure, the drawingsand the appended claims. In addition to variations and modifications inthe component parts and/or arrangements, alternative uses will also beapparent to those skilled in the art.

What is claimed is:
 1. A camera module comprising: a lens unit; a firstboard formed with an electromagnetic circuit; a third board spaced apartfrom the first board, the third board including a terminal for externalelectrical connection and being formed with an electromagnetic circuit;a second board disposed between the first board and the third board andelectrically connected to the first board and the third board, thesecond board being formed with an electromagnetic circuit; a firstsupport member having one side coupled to the first board and the otherside coming into contact with one surface of the second board, so as tomaintain a constant distance between the first board and the secondboard; and a second support member having one side coupled to the secondboard and the first support member and the other side coming intocontact with one surface of the third board, so as to maintain aconstant distance between the second board and the third board.
 2. Thecamera module according to claim 1, further comprising a fastenerconfigured to couple the third board and the second support member toeach other.
 3. The camera module according to claim 2, furthercomprising an electromagnetic-field shield configured to receive thefirst board, the second board, and the third board therein, theelectromagnetic-field shield serving to inhibit outward leakage of anelectromagnetic-field formed in each board.
 4. The camera moduleaccording to claim 3, wherein the electromagnetic-field shield is formedwith a through-hole for coupling of the fastener such that theelectromagnetic-field shield and the third board are coupled to eachother via the fastener.
 5. The camera module according to claim 1,further comprising connectors configured to implement electricalconnection between the first board and the second board and between thesecond board and the third board respectively.
 6. The camera moduleaccording to claim 5, wherein each connector is configured as a flexiblecircuit board.
 7. The camera module according to claim 1, wherein thefirst support member or the second support member includes: a smalldiameter portion formed with male threads; and a large diameter portionhaving a central coupling recess formed with female threadscorresponding to the male threads formed at the small diameter portionso as to enable screwing of the small diameter portion.
 8. The cameramodule according to claim 7, wherein the large diameter portion has acircular cross section in a width direction.
 9. The camera moduleaccording to claim 8, wherein the large diameter portion has a linearindentation formed at an end in the width direction so as to passthrough the center of the large diameter portion.
 10. The camera moduleaccording to claim 8, wherein the large diameter portion has across-shaped indentation formed at an end in the width direction so asto pass through the center of the large diameter portion.
 11. The cameramodule according to claim 7, wherein the large diameter portion has ahexagonal cross section in a width direction.
 12. The camera moduleaccording to claim 7, wherein the first board, the second board, and thethird board are formed at a corresponding position thereof with aninsertion region for insertion of the small diameter portion.
 13. Thecamera module according to claim 12, wherein the insertion region takesthe form of a through-hole or a recessed hole, at least a portion ofwhich is open.
 14. The camera module according to claim 12, wherein theinsertion region is formed with female threads corresponding to the malethreads formed at the small diameter portion so as to enable screwing ofthe small diameter portion.
 15. The camera module according to claim 14,wherein the small diameter portion of the first support member isscrewed to the insertion region of the first board, the small diameterportion of the second support member is screwed to the large diameterportion of the first support member, and the second board is disposedbetween the large diameter portion of the first support member and thelarge diameter portion of the second support member.
 16. The cameramodule according to claim 1, wherein the first support member or thesecond support member is electrically connected to a ground wire.
 17. Acamera module comprising: a lens unit; a first board formed with anelectromagnetic circuit; a second board spaced apart from the firstboard, the second board including a terminal for external electricalconnection and being formed with an electromagnetic circuit; a firstsupport member having one side coupled to the first board and the otherside coming into contact with one surface of the second board, so as tomaintain a constant distance between the first board and the secondboard; and an electromagnetic-field shield configured to receive thefirst board and the second board therein, the electromagnetic-fieldshield serving to inhibit outward leakage of an electromagnetic-fieldformed in each board.
 18. A camera module comprising: a lens unit; acontrol circuit board configured to control the lens unit; a powersupply circuit board disposed on the control circuit board andelectrically connected to the control circuit board so as to supplyelectric power to the control circuit board; a support member having oneside coupled to the control circuit board and the other side coming intocontact with a lower surface of the power supply circuit board so as tomaintain a constant distance between the control circuit board and thepower supply circuit board; and a fastener configured to couple thepower supply circuit board and the support member to each other.